The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Oft times in researching your family history you may connect with a first cousin two times removed (3rd cousin) and discover a treasure trove of documents, pictures and letters.
Such was the case for Judy Duncan of Stronghurst on a trip to Missouri seeking information about her mother's family.
She was astonished by the inside address of this 1871 letter.
Not only does it recall the importance of an oft forgotten place, but it also gives us a glimpse into the life of ordinary people in this time period.
"Hoppers Mills"
May 21st, 1871
I received your letter a few days ago. I am well. I have got all things in order and it was a worse job than at Athens (Missouri) but I have everything in first rate order.
We have done but little yet there is not 1/4th the sheep sheard yet.
I am satisfied we will have all we can do for the Hawkeye woolen mill at Burlington is not going to run this season. As soon as the clover heads turn in the hogs in, have the boys to make a slip gap so they can go in and out as they please.
Has the swelling gone out of bird's flanks?
You had better yoke old Fan if Billy can't get time to ride the fence. I think you had better sell ten of the hogs for if the chince bug is in the wheat they will take the oats and rye and doo the corn a great damage and if so and the corn crop is not good we will be in a bad fix for feed.
If you can get six dollars apiece within one month I think you had better sell them. I would rather have the money in good steer calves than the hogs.
There will be a man by here in two or three weeks who lives in Novelty south of Edina.
Him and his wife has gone on a visit to see his father near Rock Island and when he come back I will send you some money and stocken yarn.
We have no colord on hand but if we doo any coloring before that time I will send some colord also.
Be careful of the lamp there was a little gurl burn to death at Sagetown (Glad-stone) day before yesterday. She died in one hour.
The potato bugs is taking things clean here.
They commence as soon as the potatoes peep out of the ground. I wrote to dod? Clark a few days ago.
Has Sutton and Finegan got religion yet, if not tell them they had better be stirring their stumps or Adrich (possibly the undertaker?) will have them before they get cold.
Caution Finegan not to go into spasms over his big baby but keep cool.
Tell Arphey I will bring him a purty (when I come home.)
I will take Gean and Lotty something too if they are good children.
It has not rained any since I come here until last night it sprinkled a little.
I wrote to Williams to see if he could get some of the neighbors to send their wool here to be manufacture into cloth or yarn.
Write immediately.
Yours J.W.Allen"
Jefferson W. Allen's letter written from Hoppers Mills, Henderson County, Illinois on May 21, 1871, to his wife Harriet.
They lived in Fairmont, Clark County, Missouri. J.W. and his wife moved to Missouri from Claremont County, Ohio, in the spring of 1864 bringing with them their young son Eugene.
Their younger children Charlottie and Arthur were born in Clark County. Charlottie married Aquilla Fry and their daughter Louise married Dr. James F. Alexander.
Their daughter is Lucille Alexander Hustead who lives in Stronghurst.
This letter was given to Judy Duncan by Arthur's son Floyd Allen who still lives in Missouri.
The letter was in a wooden box with many other letters, papers and documents of which some of them belonged to J.W.'s father and dated back to 1820.